Gina de V: JdV will testify on all GMA corrupt deals

From The Daily Tribune online-06/10/2008

He will definitely spill the whole beans, and not just focus on the ZTE-NBN kickbacks.

Even as he is undergoing a full medical check-up in a Singapore hospital, ousted Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. won’t back off from testifying before the Senate to tell all he knows about the corruption-ridden deals allegedly entered into by the presidential spouses, Gloria Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo.

This was relayed to the Tribune yesterday, through a brief telephone interview with Gina de Venecia, wife of the former Speaker, who said her husband wanted to be sure that he is in the best of health before he testifies because “it is definitely going to be a long-drawn war with the Arroyos once he starts testifying to all he knows.”

The couple appeared to have particularly been ticked off by the advertisement that appeared in a major newspaper that pointed to the De Venecias allegedly in secret meetings with nuns and leftist organizations.

The ad was reportedly paid for by a group known as Babae Ka, a party-list contender which was identified in 2007 as an Arroyo administration ally.

Reached by phone, Gina de Venecia said of the smear campaign against her husband, particularly the paid ad by Babae Ka: “I dismiss it as rubbish. I don’t even want to dignify it. We have no enemies, only Gloria Arroyo and the First Gentleman, which is why I am very sure that behind the smear campaign are the presidential couple.

“The truth is, GMA is very very scared over what my husband, JdV, will say because we all know that no one can be more credible than an insider like JdV.

“My husband will speak out in the proper forum and at the right time. And unlike other witnesses who are focused only on the ZTE, JdV will reveal all the misdeeds of this administration, which is to blame for the almost beggar status of the Filipinos today.

Babae Ka!, Ang Kasangga and Akbay Pinoy, media reported during the 2007 election campaign period were set up directly by the Office of External Affairs under the Office of the President.

This was exposed by then Party-List Akbayan Rep. Etta Rosales.

It was a time when the leftist party list groups were reportedly being eased out of their representations in Congress to give way to the Malacañang party-listers who would serve the political needs of President Arroyo, to ensure that her group of allies would drown out an impeachment complaint then reportedly being readied against her.

The same office of external affairs was reported then to have undertaken the controversial People’s Initiative, a signature campaign meant to extend the term of Mrs. Arroyo.

Denials from the individuals mentioned in the advertisements as having met with Gina de Venecia, who was tagged as the leader of the group, such as Sr. Mary John Mananzan and former Arroyo social welfare chief Dinky Soliman who has turned Arroyo critic, prompted a press statement from the same group, but without giving its name, daring De Venecia, Mananzan and other leftst and activist groups to prove their allegations wrong.

The statement purportedly comes from the Arroyo-allied group, Babae Ka.

The statement challenged the former Speaker, Sr. Mary John Mananzan and leftist organizations “to prove that our information is incorrect.”

The group insisted that it remains remain firm on its accusations.

“We also challenge the former speaker and the activist nun to categorically deny that they are allied with each other.

“We declare that their actions in the days, weeks and months to come would definitely prove us correct. We stand by our information that they have formed an unholy tactical alliance against President Arroyo,” the statement read.

The group added: “What we published is not a smear campaign against De Venecia or anybody. It is an open letter seeking the truth. And it is our patriotic duty to this country and our countrymen to reveal what we know.

“From where we stand, we could easily conclude that there is no need to stage a smear campaign against De Venecia. His record as filthiest trapo of all trapos (traditional politicians) in this country could speak for itself.

“Sister Mary John Mananzan, may we ask the following: Was she present during a meeting held at Sta. Quiteria in Caloocan City just a week or two ago? Did she announce there that they have collected Two Million Pesos for Lozada? What was that meeting all about? Tell us, Sister Mary John.

“The burden of proof is not on us. We published an open letter through a paid advertisement and they called it a “smear campaign.” But they never denied that there is indeed such a plan to destabilize the Arroyo administration. It is they that must explain to the people and the authorities their roles in this dastardly and criminal plot.

“We also challenge them to surface this so-called “Alex.”’ But we are very sure that they could never do that. That “Alex” is fictitious. Based on our informants, the photos came from Gina De Venecia. In a manner of speaking, kinuryente nila ang media (media were given a bum steer). This is another grand deception against the Filipino people.

“Just like the media, we could not reveal the identities of our sources. Most of them are from the opposition. They could no longer take what is being hatched. They are genuine leaders who deserve to be protected.”

It is however doubted that Babae Ka obtained the alleged information from the opposition.

originally posted in

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080610hed2.html